Window structure having a combined lift and latch device



Nov; 18, 1958 H. J. BIANCO WINDOW STRUCTURE HAVING A COMBINED LIFT AND LATCH DEVICE Filed June 30. 1953 vlllllill l [|11 .lllillfllvllf il INVENTOR HENRY J'. BIANCO am ,C7/M

ATTORNEYS United States Patent O ffice A y STRUCTURE HAVING A COMBINED LIFT AND LATCH DEVICE Application .lune 30, 14953, Serial No. 364,986 1c Claims. (ci. isa- 72) WINDOW The present invention relates to a metal window con- -struction and, more particularly, to such a construction -for a sliding metal window sash or screen having a combined latch and lift device associated therewith.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a combined latch and lift whereby a window sash or screen can be raised and latched in any desired position and/ or lowered without shifting of the operators hands from a pair of grip members attached to the sash or screen.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sliding window sash or screen having a pair of com-bined latch and lift devices associated therewith so that the window sash or screen may be raised or lowered, smoothly and evenly, to or from an adjusted position or maintained in an elevated latched position without cocking.

`Still another object of the invention is to provide a construction whereby a metal window or screen can be raised to a selected position by exerting only an lupward force but in which a latch bolt must be manually retracted by exerting a laterally applied force before the window can be lowered.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a frame and track arrangement to provide for thereception of a latch carried by a vertically sliding window or screen.

Another object of the invention is to provide a process whereby a grip member for thepresent combined latch andlift device may be readily and economically manufactured of sheet metal. j

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary elevational View of a window sash in lowered position and` equipped with a pair of the latch and lift devices of the present invention; j

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary View partly in elevation and partly in section showing a corner of thewindow sashlillnstrated in Fig. l in full lines in its lowered position, and showing the sash in a raised or elevated position in dot-and-dash lines;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view showing the blank from which the grip portion of the instant latch actuator and grip or lift lis manufactured; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the grip portion in final form.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 generally designates a' metal frame adapted to be mountedin a wall opening. The window frame 1 includes a horizontal sillmember 2 `and horizontal top member (not shown), `the ends of which are interconnected by a pair of vertical sidemembers 3 `of similar construction. The side members 3 in clude a web portion 4 having a depressed longitudinally extending channel 6 formed therein as shown in Fig. 4.

Each of the side frames 3 has associated therewith a sash guide track 7, which includes a U-shaped portion 8 2,860,745 Patented Nov. 118, 1958 comprising a pair of leg portions 9 joined by a 'base portion 11. The tracks 7.are more completely disclosed in iny application Serial No.` 365,056, iiled June 3Q, 1953,' which issued intoa patent `bearing No. 2,775,003. p

The base portion 11 immediately overlies channel 6 and is provided with a series of spaced apertures I2 for apurpose which will be brought out fully hereinafter; The apertures 12 may conveniently be formed by striking out tabs 13 from th'e base portion 11 in an inward direction into the channel 6, with the tabs joined to the base portion 11 at their upper end to form an inclined cam surface in conjunction with each of the apertures 12.

The guide tracks 7` receive a window sash, generally designated by the numeral 14, for vertical sliding movement in the U-shaped portion 8. stripping (not shown) will beA employed to seal the space between the window and 'the leg portions`9 of the U- shaped portion 8.

While a window. 14 has been shown for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention. is equally applicable to .a vertically reciprocating window screen (not shown).

The window 14 includes a horizontal top rail 16 and a horizontal bottom rail 17 joined byV vertical side `rails 18, all of .the rails being formed preferably of extruded aluminum alloy shapes.` The top and bottom rails may be secured to the side rails by means of` a screw 19 `threaded into a metaltblock 21 secured by a'rivet 21a to the side rails 18 at each end. For a more detailed description of the block 21 and the sash assembly, reference is made to my copending application Serial No. 365,055, led June `30, u1953, which issued into a patent bearing No. 2,782,885.

The latch` and lift device of the present invention is associated with the bottom rail 17, which as shownparticularly in Fig. 3,`includes a pair of vertical side walls 22, joined-by a pair of spaced horizontal web members 23,",so`a`sv to provide the bottom rail 17 with a hollow `interior portion24 and' an exterior portion presenting a `flat vertical surface 26. Side walls 22 extend beyond the web members 23 in lboth directions to form an upper `glazing groove 27 and a lower' groove`28`, which may contain weather stripping 29 to seal against the sill 2 of window frame 1.

The combined latch and lift'device comprises a latch bolt 30 guided for horizontal'sliding movement in the lower` halt of the hollow' interior portion 24 of bottom rail 17 by means of apair of opposed guide ribs 31. A c-oil spring 32, bearing at one end against the flat inner end 33 of latch bolt 30 and at the other end against a tongue 34 struck downwardly from the upperweb meinber 23, normally urges the latch bolt 30 outwardly. The latch bolt 30 is bevelled at its outer end as at 20 to provide a cam surface lying in'the same general vertical plane as that formed bythe tabs 13. v

To eiect movement of latch bolt 30 and raise or lower the window, there is` provided exteriorly ot the `bottom rail 17 a grip member generally -designated by the numeral 35, which comprises a at base portion 36, adapted to slide over the flat vertical surface 26 `of bottom rail 17, and a nger grippingflange 37 extending longitudinally from the upper edge of the at base portion 36.

`The grip member 35 may conveniently be manufactured from a stamped blank B of sheet metal such as aluminum of the configuration shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. t l i t T he blank B includes' an elongated narrow portion 3S, which forms the linger grippingange 37 and an adjoin ing relatively short and wide `portion 39` which forms the llat base portion 36. The two portions are joined only along a medial zone M thereof and the relatively short and wide portion 39 has rounded corners $39' extending Ordinarily, weather fromr the sides thereof and terminating at the juncture of the two portions. To present a pleasing appearance and to avoid sharp cornersin the finished grip the elongated lnarrowportion A38-m'ay have its outermost corners rounded as at 38. p

The grip member 35` is formed by-bending the blank along themedial zone M', at which the portions 38 and 39 are, joined, until they lie in planes at right angles to each other. The ends of the elongated narrow. portion 38'are generally tab-like and may then be bent tof conform with lthe arcuate boundaries of' the corners 39 as shown in Fig. 6. Ithas been found that if fairly heavy gauge ma. terial is employed, it is unnecessary to secure the tab ends of theange 37 to the4 rounded corners 39. A ypair'of holes: 40 is preferablypunched in-'th'e po`rtion39 before the vblank B;is bent alongftheregion M.'

Latch-'bolt 30" and Vgrip member 35 -are rigidly interconnected by means ofa pair of spaced screwsv 41having threaded portions 43 receivedin a pair' ofv correspondingly1 spaced threaded openingsr 42A nv the Vlatch bolt. Above the threaded portion 43 of screws 41'i`s an enlarged portion 44 lforming an abruptfsho'ulder 46; Theenlarged portion 44 terminates in a still further enlarged head'47 provided with aat 'under portion 48.

The screws 41 passthroughthe pair of spaced apertures 40 in base portionl 36 of the grip member 35, the apertures 40 conforming closely to the dimensions of the' enlarged `'portions 46, and through a 'pair of underlying spaced slots51.in the inner of the sidewalls `22 of bottom wall rail 17.` The distance between shoulder 46 and the under surface 48 of4 head 47 is made such that when the screws 41 are screwed home, there Will be just sufficient clearance between the verticalsurface yportion 26 of rail 17 and theadjoir'iing surface of thebase portion 36 or grip member 35` that easy'hor'izontal sliding motion is possible.

Thewidth ofslots 51 may conform closely to the diameter-ofthe'enlarged portion 4420i sc'r'ews 41 but their length is such that theylimit, in one direction, the outward movement of latchbolt 30 under-the `urgingofrcoil spring 32 and, in the other direction, the retraction offth'e latch bolt 30 to a position' wholly within tlie hollow interior portion of rail 17 by manual eifort'against the force of the spring 32.

It is preferable to install one of the latch lift devices ateach side of the`- window sash 14, so that the window will be held at a selected elevated position, withno tendency for-the-window to cock: It"is{t'obev understood, however, that in the interest of economy the combined llatch-and lift device could beA installed inv only oelower corner of' the window and aj lift member only rigidly secured at the other corner.

'From the above"desc'ription^, the operation of the cornbined -Iatch operator and lift ldevicewill be' readily apparent. If the window or screenv is in lowered position, it

isfonly necessary to insert the fingers under the flange portion 37 of grip 35-and exert an inward lateral force to retract the latch bolts 30.` The window or screen may then be raised toapproximately the height desired andthe inward lateral force lrelaxed to'permit the coil springs 32 to urge'l'atchbolts 30'toward their extended position. By then loweringthe Window the latch bolts 30 will project into the nearest of the aligned apertures 12'y and maintain the window at the desired elevationl in aA positive manner. f

' To -lower the window it is only necessary to again exert a manual inwardly directed lateralforce yto retract the .ltch' bolts 30 :and force the window downwardly into any selected lowered position.

i It is -to be noted, that, -if desired, the Window can be raised without retracting latch bolt 30. The tip of the latch bolt 30 will readily slide along web portion 11 and even though the latch bolt will be projected into each successive aperture 12, it` will be readily cammed therefrom by the complementary cam surfaces formed bythe 4 bevelled end 20 of latch bolt 30 and the tab 13 struck from the base portion 11 to form the aperture 12.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction of the combined operator latch and lift device described herein without departing from the principles of the invention and the scope of the annexed claims.

I claim:

l. A combined latch 'operator and lift device for a vertically sliding closure member having a bottom rail of extruded aluminum'includin'g a hollow interior portion and an exterior portion 'presenting a tlat vertical surface, comprising: a latch bolt guided for longitudinal sliding movement within said hollow interior portion; a hand grip member for raising and lowering said closure member having a linger engaging portion and a flat base portion, said hand grip member being positioned outside of said bottom -rail and being arranged for sliding movement laterally of said closure member over said flat vertical surface of said bottom rail, said linger engaging portion lbeing an integral iiange extending alongthe upper edge of said flat base portion and disposed perpendicular -to said liat base portion; means extending from said ilat base portion and through elongated slots in said bottom rail and connecting said hand grip member to said latch; spring means normally urging said latch bolt to extended position; and means rigidly interconnecting said latch bolt and saidy grip member whereby lateral movement of said grip member will cause a corresponding longitudinal movement of said latch bolt.

2. A combined latch operator and lift device for a vertically sliding closure member having a bott-om rail of extruded aluminum including a hollow interior portion and an exterior portion presenting a flat vertical surface, comprising: a latch bolt guided for longitudinal sliding movement within said hollow interior portion; a hand grip member positioned outside of said bottom rail for raising and lowering said closure member, said hand grip memberincluding a flat base portion', the upper corners of which are rounded, overlying said at surface portion of said bottom rail for sliding movement laterally of said closure member and a longitudinally extending-finger engaging flange projecting perpendicularly from `the'upper edge of said flat base portion, the ends ofs'aid flange being in the form of tabs bent to conformwith vthe rounded uppei' corners of said tlat'base portion; spring means'normally urging said latch bolt to extended position;` and means rigidly interconnecting said latch bolt and said grip member whereby lateral movement of said gripjinember will cause a corresponding longitudinal movement of said latch bolt.'

3. A combined latch operator and lift device for a vertically sliding closure member having a bottom rail of extruded aluminum provided with spaced'slots inthe inner side Wall thereof and including a hollow interiorv portion and an exterior portion presenting a dat vertical surface, comprising: a latch bolt having space'dfthreaded apertures therein guided for longitudinal sliding movement within said hollow interior portion;` a hand grip member for raising and lowering said closure member having a linger engaging portion and a at base portion for sliding'movement laterally of said closure over said iiat vertical surface of said bottom rail; and means rigidly interconnecting said latch bolt and said grip'member whereby lateral movement of said grip member will cause a corresponding longitudinal movement of said latch bolt, said interconnecting means including a pair of screws having a threaded portion for reception in said threaded apertures in said latchbolt, an 'enlarged portion providing a shoulder as a spacer adjacent said threaded portion to limit the distance said screws may be threaded into said latch 'bolt land a further enlarged head portion, the distance between said shoulder and said head portion being such as to provide just suticient clearance between said flat base portion of -said hand grip member and said flat vertical surface of said bottom rail for easysliding movement when said screws are passed through apertures in saidflat base portion of said hand grip member and Vsaid slots in the inner side wall of said bottom rail. j

4. A construction for an extruded metal window sash adapted to slide vertically in a trackway having vertically spaced apertures therein, said window sash including a combined latch operator and lift device, comprising: a 'bottom rail including vertical side walls joined by spaced horizontal web members to provide al'iollow interior portion, the inner side wall being provided with spaced slots :and an external flat surface portioma latch bolt for insertion in a selected one of said spaced apertures in said trackway guided for longitudinal sliding movement in said hollow interior portion of said bottom rail, said latch bolt having spaced threaded apertures therein; a hand grip member positioned outside of said bottom rail for raising and lowering said closure member, said hand grip member having a finger engaging portion and a fiat base portion for sliding movement laterally of said window over said external flat surface of said inner side Wall, said flat base portion having a pair of spaced apertures therein and said linger engaging. portion being an integral flange extending perpendicularly from along the upper edge of .said dat base portion; and a pair of screws passing through .said apertures in said base portion of said hand grip .member and said slots in said inner wall of said bottom :rail ymember and threaded into said threaded apertures in 4said latch bolt to rigidly interconnect said hand grip `member and said latch bolt, whereby lateral movement of :said hand grip member will cause a corresponding longi- :tudinal sliding movement of said latch bolt relative to said bottom rail.

5. A construction for an extruded metal window sash :adapted to slide vertically in a trackway having vertically .spaced apertures therein, said window sash including a combined latch operator and lift device, comprising: a bottom rail including spaced vertical side walls joined by spaced horizontal web members to provide a hollow interior portion, the inner side wall being provided with spaced slots and an external ilat surface portion and one of said web members having an ear struck therefrom into said hollow interior portion; a latch bolt having an outer end for insertion in a selected one of said spaced apertures in said trackway and an inner end guided for longitudinal sliding movement in said hollow interior portion of said bottom rail, said latch bolt having spaced threaded apertures therein; a coil spring positioned in said hollow interior portion of said bottom rail between the inner end of said latch bolt and said ear struck from said web member whereby said latch member is constantly urged toward extended position; a hand grip member positioned outside of said bottom rail for raising and lowering said closure member, said hand grip member having a finger engaging portion and a at base portion for sliding movement laterally of said window over said external at sur- .face portion of said inner side wall, said flat base por- 'tion having a pair of spaced apertures therein and said finger engaging portion being an integral flange extending perpendicularly from along the upper edge of said flat base portion; and a pair of screws passing through said :apertures in said base portion `of said hand grip member .and said slots in said inner wall of said bottom rail .member and threaded into said threaded apertures in said latch bolt, to rigidly interconnect said hand grip member and said latch bolt, whereby lateral movement of said Vhand grip member will cause a corresponding longitudinal t sliding movement of said latch bolt relative to said bottom vrail.

6. A metal window construction for a vertically sliding =closure member having a laterally projecting latch bolt,

comprising: a window frame including a pair of side frame members, at least one of said side frame members "having an inwardly facing, longitudinally extending chaninel therein and a longitudinal, inwardly extending ange disposed parallel to'said channel; and guide tracks secured` to said side frame members with one of said guide tracks abutting said ange, said guide tracks including a U-shaped portion receiving said closure member for vertical sliding movement land being located over said longitudinal chan'- nel with the base of said U-shaped portion being flat throughout its width and being provided with a series of spaced apertures for the reception of said latch bolt and projection thereof into said channel.

7. A metal window construction for a vertically sliding closure member having a laterally projecting latch bolt, comprising: a window fname including a pair of side frame members, at least `one of said side frame members having `an inwardly facing longitudinally extending channel therein and `a longitudinal, inwardly extending flange parallel with said channel; guide tracks secured to said side frame members with one of said guide tracks abutting said ange, said guide tracks including a U-shaped portion receiving said cl-osure member for vertical sliding movement and having a at base located over said longitudinal channel; and tabs struck downwardly and inwardly from the base of said U-shaped portion of said guide track into said longitudinal channel to form a series of openings for the reception of said latch bolt.

8. A metal window construction, comprising: a window frame including side frame members at least one of which has an inwardly facing longitudinally extending channel therein and a longitudinakinwardly extending ilange parallel to said channel; guide tracks secured to said side frame members, with one of said guide tracks abutting said flange, said guide tracks including a U-shaped portion, the base of which overlies said longitudinally extending channel and is flat throughout its width, a series of spaced apertures being provided therein; and a closure member t received by said U-shaped portion of said guide tracks for vertical slidingmovement, said closure member having at least one laterally projecting latch member for reception into said longitudinally extending channel through a selected one of said series of apertures in said base of said U-shaped portion of said guide tracks.

9. A metal window construction, comprising: a window frame including a pair of side frame members, at least one of which has an inwardly facing, longitudinally extending channel therein and a longitudinal, inwardly extending ange disposed parallel to said channel; guide tracks secured to said side frame members with one of said guide tracks abutting said ange, said guide tracks including a U-shaped portion, the base of which overlies said channel and is flat throughout its width, a spaced series of ta'bs being struck downwardly and outwardly therefrom into said channel to form a series of apertures having cam surfaces associated therewith; and a closure member received by said U-shaped portion of said guide track, for vertical sliding movement, said closure member having at least one laterally projecting latch bolt having a bevelled end providing a cam surface lying in substantially the same vertical plane as the cam surfaces provided by said tabs, said latch bolt being constantly urged by spring means toward reception in said longitudinal channel through a selected one of said apertures, the arrangement being such that upon raising the closure member said latch bolt will be automatically cammed from each successive aperture, `but in order to lower the closure member, the latch bolt must be manually retracted from the selected one of said apertures in which it is positioned.

10. A metal window construction for a vertically sliding closure member having a laterally projecting latch bolt, comprising: a window frame including a pair of side frame members, at least one of said side frame members having an inwardly facing, longitudinally extending channel therein and a longitudinal, inwardly extending flange disposed parallel to said channel; guide tracks secured t0 said side frame members with one of said guide tracks abutting said flange, said guide tracks including a U- shaped portion receiving said closure member for vertical sliding movement located over said longitudinal channel with the base ofsaid U-shaped portion being at throughout its Width, provided with a series of spaced apertures for the reception of said latch bolt and projection thereof into vsaid channel; a hand grip for raising and lowering said closure member; means mounting saidfhand grip on said closure member for-sliding movement laterally thereon; and means rigidly interconnecting said hand grip and latch 'bolt to retract said latch bolt upon lateral movement of said hand grip in a direction inwardly of said window frame,

References Citedin the file of `this patent UNITED STATES `PATENTS Bucknam May 31,V 1904 Anderson May 4, 1915 gWoop Nov. 6, 1928 Axe Aug. 8, 1933 Schenck Oct. 16, 1934 Holt et al. Feb. 8, 1938 ,Price Sept. 23, 1952 Zappone et al Dec. 27, 1955 Reinhardt Sept. 4, 1956 

